Being brought to court under arrest is stressful enough. Doing it while a newspaper photographer is waiting outside the courthouse is a whole different problem.
Most court appearances attract very little attention.
This one attracted a photographer.
After taking a man into custody on a court-issued capias, Alan escorted him to court expecting a routine surrender and appearance before a judge. The subject was cooperative, and everything was proceeding normally.
Then they arrived at the courthouse.
Waiting outside was a photographer from the local newspaper, camera in hand and looking for the day's newsworthy image.
What happened next created one of those perfectly timed moments that nobody could have planned and nobody involved would soon forget.
For the man being escorted into court, the legal trouble was bad enough.
Finding himself in front of a newspaper camera made the day considerably worse.
The Constable Files – Episode 18: The Photographer is a true story about timing, public embarrassment, and the unexpected intersection of court business and local journalism.
Because some days you're just going to court.
And some days you're making tomorrow's paper.
